CCTVs to keep hawk eye on Goa beaches soon

Panaji: Over three dozen CCTV cameras will soon start capturing all the movements and activities on Goa`s crowded beaches, as part of state government`s nitiative in curbing illegalities on the shores.

Goa Tourism Department has moved a proposal of installing more than 36 CCTV cameras at vital locations, mostly crowded beaches, which would be monitored 24X7 by a dedicated control room back in the capital city of Panaji.

Tourism director Swapnil Naik said that the state Tourist Department security force, a semi-police force in the making, will be empowered to monitor these cameras through a dedicated control room.

Tourist Security Force is still being formed, as recruitment for this elite force was held back by the erstwhile Congress-led government and now the BJP-led government is expected to revive the process. The proposal for CCTV cameras worth Rs 2.5 crore is likely to figure in the state budget that would be presented by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar tomorrow.

Naik said, "At present, cameras do exist at 18 locations, which monitor the activities only during the day. They don`t have a night vision facility." Goa has 105-km long beach stretch.

Drishti Special Response Pvt Ltd, a private firm assigned the job of keeping life guards on the beaches, is handling these low-visibility gadgets, capturing black and white images.

"The existing cameras would be upgraded and additional cameras with night vision facility would be installed on the beaches," Naik said adding that similar cameras are also proposed to be installed at churches and temples, which are tourist attractions.

According to officials, the cameras will be able to keep a vigil on the activities on the beach during the nights. DGP Kishen Kumar, during his recent visit to the beach had expressed dissatisfaction over the security arrangements here. Kumar had assured to step up the security to avert any possible terror attack.